A close-up of one of the Vasari’s masterpieces mentioned in Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’
If you’re a fan of Dan Brown, then one must-visit location to visit in Florence is the Palazzo Vecchio situated in Piazza della Signoria.
The simple structure of the exterior defies the amazing interior.
Stepping into the internal courtyard you are amazed by the ornate frescoes and statues housed within.
Climbing up the wide, noble stair case you will find the Salone del Cinquecento. The room is impressive just for its grand size. There are also a series of amazing sculptures set around the room. However it is Giorgio Vasari’s ‘The Battle of Marciano in the Chiana Valley’ fresco that is most impressive.
The detail of this amazing fresco is just incredible. So incredible that it is easy to miss one little aspect – a green flag on which is written, “CERCA TROVA” – Italian for ‘Seek and find’.
Vasari was commissioned to paint the great fresco in the 16th century. It has been discovered that the fresco was done on a false wall Vasari is said to have constructed upon which to paint.
Diagnostician of Italian art, Maurizio Seracini, believes this was so as not to destroy an unfinished Da Vinci work underneath. He has been on a mission to seek the lost Da Vincifor 40 years and hopes that one day soon Vasari’s words will prove true – that he will find.
Renowned art sleuth, Maurizio Seracini
Seracini is the only real-life, living human being to have been mentioned in Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” and now is mentioned also in the latest Dan Brown title, “Inferno”.
We are the first company in Florence to offer an Exclusive Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’ -Dante_in_Florence_Tour, tracing the paths of Robert Langdon as he treads the Florence city streets, and entering into some of Florence’s most iconic buildings, such as the Palazzo Vecchio and the Florence Baptistry building.
Artviva also has a 2-hour exclusive Da Vinci Code Art Sleuth tour with Seracini where you learn can how to spot a forgery, receive hints on building your own private art collection and continue on the search for lost masterpieces in the company of this expert.
You can also experience another of Vasari’s great works for yourself, on our skip-the-line guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with our expert guide, followed by an exclusive-entry guided tour of the Vasari Corridor, also mentioned in Dan Brown’s “Inferno”.
Dan Brown’s Inferno
Artviva: tours in Florence, Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre, Umbria, Naples, Pompeii and more.
